Municipal polls in 7 urban local bodies: Bengal agrees to tentative schedule

The Department of Urban Development and Municipal Affairs, the government of West Bengal, has written to the Joint Secretary to the government of West Bengal about a tentative schedule of the municipal general elections for seven urban local bodies of the state.

The letter, dated March 14, states that the state government has agreed to the tentative schedule proposed by the West Bengal State Election Commission for holding elections to seven urban local bodies — Domkal, Pujali, Raiganj, Kurseong, Mirik, Darjeeling and Kalimpong.

The tentative schedule proposes completion of the election process by May 19 and the polls could be held on May 14. Notification of the election by the state government could take place on April 17 tentatively. A copy of the letter has also been forwarded to Government Pleader, Calcutta High Court.

Incidentally, the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) has filed a writ petition in the Calcutta High Court against the state government and the state Election Commission for not holding elections in the four Hill municipalities within a period of six months from the expiry of tenure of the boards.

"Similar writ petitions were filed by other municipalities also. Our writ petition will be heard on Thursday," stated P T Ola, Member-in-Charge, Municipal Affairs and Urban Development Department, GTA. The tenure of the Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong and Mirik municipalities had expired in December 2016. The Sub-Divisional Officers of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong were appointed as Administrators of the four civic bodies with the expiry of tenure of the boards.

"Though the election process was initiated by the state government with the preparation of the roster, it has failed to give valid reasons for not being able to hold the polls till date. As the Hill municipalities come under the GTA, the state should have communicated the reason for the delay," added Ola. He claimed that with the expiry of the boards' tenure, the GTA had written to the Additional Chief Secretary, the government of West Bengal and the State Election Commission regarding the same. "However, we haven't received any answer," added Ola.